Letter 98. To a Superior of the Visitation

.... You are going on well enough, dear daughter, and your only danger is that you gaze too anxiously at your own steps through fear of falling. You ponder too much upon your sallies of self-love, which doubtless are firequent, but which will never be dangerous so long as you put them from you quietly, without being annoyed by their importunity, or astonished by their multitude. Go on in all simplicity; do not be so anxious to v/in a quiet mind, and it will be all the quieter.

What makes you so anxious? God is very Good; He sees you exactly as you are. Your inclinations cannot harm you, however bad they be, if they only serve to exercise your better will in resolutely uniting itself to God. Raise your eyes, my dear daughter, and fix them high through perfect trust in the Goodness of God. Do not be eager and cumbered even for Him; remember that He told Martha that He did not will her to be cumbered, even about well-doing.

Do not examine so closely into the progress of your soul. Do not crave so much to be perfect, but let your spiritual life be formed by your duties, and by the actions which are called forth by circumstances. Do not take over-much thought for tomorrow. God, Who has led you safely on so far, will lead you on to the end. Be altogether at rest in the loving holy confidence which you ought to have in His Heavenly Providence.

Pray very earnestly to our Dear Lord for me, who, for my part, cease not to wish you all the sweetness of His Holy Love, and therein that of promoting your neighbour's happiness, which He desires so greatly. I think of you as in an exalted place, whence you look down upon the world, and up to Heaven, whither you aspire. Indeed, dear daughter, I am wholly yours, and I believe that you do well to live entirely in the Arms of Divine Providence, without Which all is vanity and helplessness. Ma^ God ever be in your heart. Amen.

C692.'] CII.